Pre-K to Third Grade Consultant Coach - Neighborhood Villages

Playful Learning Institute

Pre-K to Third Grade Consultant Coach

(Grant-Funded Part-Time Consulting Position)

Position Available: November 2024

Mission: Neighborhood Villages envisions a future in which all families have access to affordable, high quality child care. In service of this vision, we advocate for child care policy reform and architect innovative, scalable solutions to address the biggest challenges facing child care providers and the families who rely on them.

About Neighborhood Villages: Neighborhood Villages is a Massachusetts systems-change non-profit working to create a future in which all families have access to affordable, high-quality early education and care. Collectively, NV's interlocking programs are designed to bolster the capacity of the early education and care system, in Massachusetts and across the country, to:

1) Recruit, retain, and develop a professional workforce of early educators and administrators,

2) Support educator professional development and program quality to promote excellence in education and ensure that children reach developmental and literacy milestones, and

3) Meet the full-scope wraparound needs of vulnerable children and families to ensure that they enter classrooms ready to learn and to thrive.

The Playful Learning Institute (PLI) Consultant Coach position is a grant-funded part-time 1099 Consulting position, currently funded through June 2026 with the possibility for further renewal, with oversite by the Project Manager, who subsequently reports to the Senior Director of Early Education Support at Neighborhood Villages. The PLI coach provides comprehensive coaching and professional development support around the Playful Learning practices, which include the following:

• Read Aloud Text Talks
• Center and Studios
• Thinking and Feedback
• Writing
• Storytelling and Story Acting
• Community Meeting

These practices have been developed in collaboration with the Boston Public Schools Department of Early Childhood in alignment with the Focus on Early Learning curriculum. The coaching focuses on Massachusetts' elementary and secondary districts and involves delivering high-quality, tailored support and development assistance on playful learning to educators and administrators in these districts, covering coaching, facilitation, debriefing assessments, and outcome measurement. The PLI coach will specifically be assigned to collaborate with district schools under the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) purview.

Principle Duties and Responsibilities of the PLI Consultant Coach:

• Work with educators and school administrators to establish specific and achievable targets for integrating playful learning experiences into the curriculum
• Model practicesand demonstrate playful learning strategies in classroom settings
• Demonstrate proficiency in classroom observation and constructive feedback to educators while using the PLI observation tools
• Locate and identify all the necessary documentation, such as lesson plans, student records, and any relevant teaching materials, while providing coaching and support in classroom settings
• Communicate and engage school leaders to discuss trends and support playful learning initiatives
• Support in the planning and delivery of professional development around playful learning in early childhood for educators and school administration
• Submit consistent documentation of the nature and duration of coaching sessions.
• Conduct on-site visits to district schools as assigned
• Foster meaningful, collaborative relationships with teachers and school administrators to enhance open, transparent, and productive communication channels
• Various other duties as assigned

Job Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required/ higher degree preferred in early childhood education, specifically in pre-k to third grade
• Familiarity and experience with working with adult learners and using creative coaching techniques to support them
• Ability and experience connecting with educators on a personal level to build trust
• Ability to use knowledge, skills, and experience to communicate effectively while being a support in the educator's professional development
• Exceptional ability to manage time and handle multiple tasks and priorities
• Ability to embrace a positive, strengths-based approach working with teams
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong ability to work in a collaborative environment
• Experience providing guidance and support to educators and leading professional development sessions
• Ability to navigate and use digital technologies to capture video footage and photos of classroom activities

Compensation and Benefits: This position is grant-funded 1099 position funded through June 2026 with the possibility of further renewal. Due to the 1099 status no benefits are offered and Consultant Coach will be responsible for their own taxes as well as their own technology. The coaching position allows for flexible hours between 10-30 hours per week. The hourly rate for this contracted position is between $55.00 -$60.00 per hour.

Non-Discrimination Statement: Neighborhood Villages does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, homelessness, or military status. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members.